To outshine the darkness

Chapter 16

Nozel Silva P.O.V.

Gasping I shoot up in bed, and it takes me a little while before I realize I'm at home, in my own bed. I close my eyes before I sigh and run my hand through my hair. I look beside me to see Leonora sleeping peacefully, not disturbed by me waking up. For a moment I just watch her sleep, bathed in moonlight. I listen to her deep and slow breaths, watch her chest slowly go up and down with each breath. I glide over, crawling against her. I bury my face into her neck as I glide my hand from her waist to her stomach. My eyes widen for a second when I feel that her belly has grown, slightly but still I can feel a curve coming. Did this just happen over night? I can't comprehend how happy this makes me, a beaming smile appears on my lips as I bury my face even more into my wife's neck while my fingertips trace her belly and most of all the curve that's starting. "What's wrong, Nozel?" Leonora mumbles sleepily. "Nothing is wrong. I'm sorry to wake you. Go back to sleep" I whisper. I close my eyes as I inhale her smell. Her sweet, intoxicating smell. "I know when something is wrong, Nozel. You never sleep, or lay with me like this" she mumbles. "I'll do it more often" I press my lips against her shoulder. Leonora sighs deeply then places her hand on mine. "Your day was long and intense. You should sleep" she whispers. "I know" I mumble. "You should too" I say as my hand glides over her stomach again, though her hand is still on mine. For a while we're both silent, and I can feel her body becoming heavy with sleep again. "Then hold me. Perhaps you'll sleep a bit better" she whispers. "Don't mind if I do" I mumble before pressing a kiss onto her cheek. Leonora intertwines her fingers with mine. "It'll only grow bigger now" she mumble. "It only shows how big and strong our baby is becoming" I whisper. "My body will change.." Leonora sighs. "I'll always think you're beautiful" I say, pressing my lips against her shoulder again. "Thank you for saying that" Leonora says softly squeezing my hand slightly. "It's only the truth. Your body will get stronger too, you know." I say. I bury my face into her neck again. "Go to sleep Nozel, you're sleep deprived and start to act weird" Leonora says. I chuckle and close my eyes.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet" Fuegoleon says. "Of course" I say as I walk with him. "I just want to know what happened" Fuegoleon says. "With what?" I ask. "Your marriage. No offense Nozel, but Leonora wouldn't marry you" Fuegoleon says. I stop walking. "It was arranged, didn't she tell you?" I ask. Fuegoleon turns around. "She did, but I still got a feeling she's hiding something." He says. I cross my arms as I look at my rival. "What do you think she's hiding?" I ask. "She wouldn't agree to it just like that, what did he-my father- do?" Fuegoleon asks. "She didn't agree just like that" I say. "At the first meeting about it, she attacked me and got whipped for it" I say, Fuegoleons eyes widen slightly. "Then we had long negotiations before it actually happened" I say. "I see..she got whipped you say?" Fuegoleon asks. "Yeah. Your father got a crazy burning whip. I was quite shocked someone would use that to its own daughter" I say. "He used that huh?" Fuegoleon says softly. I continue walking and Fuegoleon follows me. "Did you force her to.." Fuegoleon hesitates. "To have sex with me?" I ask, raising my eyebrows. "No, I never had to and I never would've. Who likes having sex like that?" I scoff and stop walking once more. But before I can say anything Fuegoleon does. "I was never worried about how you would treat her. After all, you've liked her since we were kids" Fuegoleon grins. I blink. "Excuse me?" I ask annoyed. "Oh come on, I saw how you watched her" Fuegoleon says amused. "I didn't like her back then, she was attractive yes, but I didn't like her." I say and then scratch the back of my head. "That started when she came back" I say embarrassed. Fuegoleon laughs. "I'm really happy she's pregnant Fuegoleon, and really proud that she's going to be the mother of my child. Even if she isn't feeling the same way" I say, crossing my arms again. "I know you are. And I'm happy they chose you, instead of some other royal" he says. "You might be the only one I trust with my baby sister" Fuegoleon says. "Thanks for saying that" I say. Fuegoleon smiles before he continues walking, and I follow him once more.

I lean back in my chair as I watch Leonora start her third piece of strawberry cake, with the happiest smile I've seen on her face in a long while. Fuegoleon seems surprised and when I see he wants to talk to her I shake my head. Even Leopold places his hand on his brothers forearm. "Leonora...shouldn't you eat more healthy food, you know that's better for your baby?" Fuegoleon asks. I shake my head more ferociously as Leonora looks at him sharply. "There's strawberries on it, isn't it healthy enough?" Leonora asks. "Well.." Fuegoleon says, making me sigh and Leopold slap his own forehead. "You're trying to tell me, I can't eat this?" Leonora asks. Then her lower lip starts to tremble. "Oh no.." I sigh. She starts crying, confusing Fuegoleon even more. "I can't even fight, I can't train, I can't even do what I want anymore. I'm getting fat and weak and now you're trying to tell me I can't eat strawberry cake" she cries. I stand up, placing one hand on her shoulder and rubbing her back with the other. "It's alright baby.." I say softly. "Hormones" I mouth silently at Fuegoleon. "I'm sorry, Leonora. I didn't realize" Fuegoleon says. "Of course you didn't, why would anyone notice me" she cries. "Of course people notice you" I say soothing. "What's going on here?" Mereoleona asks carrying a basket of exotic fruits. "Fuegoleon said she should stop eating strawberry cake" Leopold says annoyed. "You really are a fool, aren't you?" Mereoleona laughs. "I didn't know!" Fuegoleon says, panicking now. "I'm really sorry Leonora!" He says, grabbing her hands. "Maybe you're just a bit tired huh? You want to go back home?" I ask, rubbing Leonora's shoulders. "No!" She cries. "What's all this crying?" Vermillion father roars. Leonora immediately stiffens in between my hands. "Fuegoleon told Leonora she should stop eating strawberry cake" Leopold says, still annoyed. "I didn't say it like that! How could I know that she would react like this?" Fuegoleon asks desperately. "Because she's pregnant fool" I say. Father Vermillion walks over and I can feel Leonora shrink. Father Vermillion kneels before his daughter. "You want strawberry cake my darling daughter? I'll buy you all the strawberry cake in the land" he says, in such a sweet tone, it doesn't suit him. Not only is he surprising Leonora and me with this, Mereoleona, Leopold and Fuegoleon nearly fall in surprise. "N-no that's not necessary" Leonora says surprised. Father Vermillion glares at Fuegoleon. "Apologize to your sister!" He says. "I already did! Multiple times!" Fuegoleon says. After another glare from his father he sighs and strokes Leonora's cheek. "I'm sorry" he says. Leonora sniffles and nods. I look down at her when I feel her hand on my fingertips. "I'm tired, I want to go home" she says softly.